Why 3D Printing is Important?
Additive manufacturing has many benefits. It
can easily achieve complex designs smoothly
other than the traditional manufacturing
methods. As an example, imagine a proto
type starts with a complex polygonal shape
and ends with a circular structure. Achieving
this smooth transition from polygon shape
to circular shape is kind of difficult with the
conventional methods but it is so easy with
additive manufacturing.
The products made using AM may have less
weight as it is producing honeycomb structures
with a higher strength to weight ratio compared
with completely solid structures.
Nowadays 3D printing and Innovation are two related terms as it makes possible to produce
prototypes that were once considered extremely difficult to produce using traditional
manufacturing methods. In addition to that, let us say we want a product which is not available
at nearby shops but can buy only online. When it comes to online shopping, we must pay
extra money for shipping and taxes other than the product cost. Also, sometimes it is not in
the perfect quality as it is shown in the pictures when it comes to our doorstep. If we have a
3D printer at home or at a nearby place, we can print a more unique and high-quality product
according to our desire. It is cost friendly and quicker way than online shopping.
In the hand of waste production, 3D printing generates significantly less waste than other
traditional manufacturing methods. For example, a milling machine removes the material
from the workpiece which will be bigger than the product itself be. The removed material
is usually in the form of chips or shavings that cannot be re-used, thus end up as waste. But
in AM instead of removing material, it adds material so that only what is required is getting
used. In addition to all these, 3D printing supports the concept of ‘Green Manufacturing’ as
AM relies on electricity.
References:
1. Can One Printer Do it All? 3D Printing:
Types and Technologies, 2016, viewed
on 05 January 2019,
2. Palermo, E, Fused Deposition Mode-
ling: Most Common 3D Printing Meth-
od, 2013, viewed on 05 January 2019,
Sachini Madara,
First year undergraduate,
Faculty of engineering,
University of Peradeniya.
GAUGE Magazine University of Peradeniya
PAGE| 37